Technology & IT Skills
Social Media Safety Quiz: Spot Scams and Protect Your Accounts
This quiz helps you practice social media safety and scam awareness by spotting fake posts, tightening privacy settings, and choosing safer actions. Answer 15 fast questions, get instant feedback, and keep learning with our phishing quiz, explore the broader internet safety quiz, or check your knowledge with a cyberbullying quiz.
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1What is a common red flag in a social media scam message?
2Which action helps protect your privacy on social media?
3What should you do when you receive an unsolicited link via direct message?
4What is a phishing scam?
5How can you report a suspicious account on most social media platforms?
6Which sign most likely indicates a fake social media profile?
7What technique helps you analyze if a URL is malicious before clicking?
8Which privacy setting should you enable to approve tags before they appear on your profile?
9What does enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account do?
10A friend's account is sending spam messages. What is the best first step?
11Which action is a best practice when creating passwords for your social media accounts?
12What is a safe way to verify the authenticity of a celebrity's profile?
13What is the most reliable way to handle emails claiming your social media account has been hacked?
14Which of the following is a sign that a social media advertisement might be fraudulent?
15When receiving a friend request from an unfamiliar person, you should first:
16What distinguishes spear-phishing from general phishing attacks on social media?
17How can checking a website's SSL certificate help you avoid a scam?
18Which method is most effective for group administrators to prevent spam and scams in community pages?
19A suspicious social media link uses a subdomain like 'login.secure-app.example.com'. What does this indicate?
20What is the best approach to evaluate the legitimacy of an online giveaway hosted by an influencer?
Learning Goals
Learning Outcomes
- Identify common social media scam tactics and red flags
- Analyse suspicious messages and links for potential threats
- Evaluate privacy settings to strengthen account security
- Apply best practices for safe social media interactions
- Demonstrate strategies for reporting and avoiding online scams
- Master techniques for verifying authentic profiles
Study Guide
Cheat Sheet
- Recognize social media scam tactics - Scammers love to create a sense of urgency, pepper their messages with spelling mistakes, and hide behind shady links. By spotting these classic tricks, you'll dodge phishing attempts before they land in your inbox. Keep your eyes peeled for "Act now!" or "Your account will be closed!" panic ploys. Spot the red flags
- Analyze messages and links for warning signs - Always question messages from unknown senders, inspect URLs character by character, and resist intimidation tactics. A single wrong letter in a web address can lead you into a hacker's lair. When in doubt, don't click - hover, examine, and verify first. Learn more about safe link checking
- Adjust your privacy settings regularly - Treat your social profiles like treasure chests: lock down who can see your posts, photos, and personal info. Platform updates happen all the time, so revisit your settings at least once a month. Controlling your digital footprint means staying one step ahead of prying eyes. Privacy protection tips
- Practice safe sharing habits - Oversharing personal details is like handing your diary to strangers. Be picky about friend requests, think twice before posting your birthday or pet's name, and never reveal your home address online. A little caution goes a long way in keeping your data all yours. Smart sharing strategies
- Report and avoid scams like a pro - If a message smells fishy, flag it or report it to the platform's abuse team. Most social networks have simple "Report" buttons - use them! By taking action, you protect yourself and help safeguard your whole online community. Safe networking best practices
- Verify authentic profiles - Look for the blue checkmark, inspect profile history, and cross-reference names or pictures on other platforms. Real users leave digital breadcrumbs - empty profiles or sudden name changes are red flags. Become a profile detective and trust only verified accounts. Profile verification guide
- Create strong, unique passwords - Ditch "123456" and "password" for complex passphrases mixing letters, numbers, and symbols. Use a password manager to keep track of your vault. Don't forget to turn on two-factor authentication for extra peace of mind. Boost your account security
- Be cautious with third-party apps - Before you grant that fun quiz or widget access to your profile, read the fine print. Some apps hoard more data than they need, then share it without your okay. Only allow permissions you truly trust. Third-party app warnings
- Review and update privacy settings often - Social media platforms roll out new features all the time, which can change how your info is shared. Set calendar reminders to check your settings every few weeks. Staying informed means staying protected. Stay on top of your privacy
- Stay informed on platform policies - Social networks update their terms of service frequently, so keep an eye on policy changes. Knowing the rules gives you control over your data and keeps you one step ahead of any privacy surprises. Policy update essentials
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Updated Feb 24, 2026